Door trim panel assembly

Abstract

A door trim panel assembly is comprised of a rigid trim panel having a decorative trim material attached on the inner face thereof. A sheet of flexible plastic or other electrically non-conductive material is imprinted with foil conductor strips to comprise a printed electrical circuit and is attached to the outer face of the rigid trim panel. The flexible plastic sheet is coextensive in size with the rigid trim panel so that the plastic sheet will provide a vapor barrier. The rigid door trim panel is comprised of plastic or hardboard or some other dielectric material so that the foil conductor strips are electrically insulated from one another by the rigid trim panel. The flexible plastic sheet insulates the foil conductor strips from the metal of the door inner panel. The foil conductor strips have terminal devices at the ends thereof for connection to the various electrical devices mounted in the door cavity and to various switches which are mounted on the trim panel assembly for operating the electric windows and other electric devices. The door trim panel assembly may be mounted on the door either manually by an assembly worker or robotically.

I claim: 
     
       1. A decorative trim panel assembly adapted for installation upon the inner face of an electrically conductive vehicle door having inner and outer panels spaced apart to define a door cavity housing a plurality of electrical devices mounted therein, comprising: a rigid trim panel of electrically non-conductive material having an outer surface adapted for attachment on the door inner panel and an inner surface, a decorative trim carried on the inner surface of the rigid trim panel to decoratively trim the inner surface of the door facing an occupant compartment, a vapor barrier of sheet plastic electrically non-conductive material mounted on the outer surface of the rigid trim panel prior to the installation of said assembly on the door and being generally coextensive in size with the trim panel and the decorative trim so that the sheet of flexible plastic provides a vapor barrier preventing migration of moisture from the door cavity to the passenger compartment, and said vapor barrier of sheet plastic material having a printed circuit thereon including a plurality of strips of electrical conducting foil imprinted on said vapor barrier and facing the rigid trim panel so that the foil conducting strips are electrically insulated from one another and from the door by the rigid trim panel and the vapor barrier of sheet plastic material.